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Cablegate: Zimbabwe: Uk Contribution to the Un Trust Fund For

Published: Thu 5 Jun 2008 11:07 AM
VZCZCXYZ0005
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHLO #1562 1571107
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 051107Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY LONDON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8846
INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0783
RUEHSB/AMEMBASSY HARARE 0162
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 1155
RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM 0562
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 1394
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0248
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1202
UNCLAS LONDON 001562
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL AA UN XA ZI UK
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE: UK CONTRIBUTION TO THE UN TRUST FUND FOR
ELECTORAL ASSISTANCE
REF: SECSTATE 60286
1. (SBU) Zimbabwe Team Leader Ben Llewellyn-Jones said June 5
the UK plans to contribute GBP 100,000 (approx. 200,000 USD)
to the UN Trust Fund for Electoral Assistance and is likely
to finalize the letter of commitment today (June 5). HMG had
initially intended to contribute GBP 200,000, but upon
learning that the South African Development Community (SADC)
Secretariat will not be accepting foreign contributions
decided to reduce the UK's trust fund contribution.
Llewellyn-Jones understands that the African Union (AU) will
accept trust fund money, but has not yet officially made the
request for support.
2. (SBU) The UK also has an additional GBP 500,000 to 700,000
(approx. 1 million to 1.4 million USD) to support the
Zimbabwe elections. At present, it plans to do that
discretely through direct bilateral support to SADC member
states. HMG is currently finalizing an arrangement with
Botswana.
3. (SBU) Llewellyn-Jones said HMG is lobbying other Europeans
states, like Holland, to contribute to the UN Trust Fund. He
understands that the European Commission will provide support
directly to the AU, once an official request has been made.
Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom
LeBaron
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